Lower Colorado River Authority

 

 

Mon
07
Aug

Local counties recorded highest rainfall

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A National Weather Service forecast shows small chances for showers as skies clear and temperatures climb for LakeFest weekend in MarbleFalls.

The National Weather Service (NWS) says more showers, less flooding for our area, but it did come down from late Sunday night to Monday morning, Aug. 6-7.

The storm cluster over north Texas moved south and produced widely varying rain totals, heaviest in portions of Llano and Burnet Counties, where as much as 5-8 inches fell. Some flash flooding was observed in this area but recent dry conditions have helped limit the overall flooding and flash flooding threat, according to the NWS. “LCRA opened one floodgate at Wirtz Dam and one floodgate at Starcke Dam to move floodwaters downstream early Monday morning. Both gates were closed by 11 a.m.”

Fri
26
May

LCRA grant to replace BVFD air compressors

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Contributed

Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) representatives present a $24,000 Community Development Partnership grant to purchase a system to refill air tanks at the Buchanan Volunteer Fire Department. Pictured on Monday, May 22, from left, are: Wade Williamson, Buchanan Fire Department lieutenant; Amanda Lehmann, department secretary; Lori A. Berger, LCRA Board member; Tim Gardner, firefighter; Mike Butler, Fire Department captain; Fire Chief Mark Hutson; Assistant Chief Chad Mitchell; Raymond A. “Ray” Gill Jr., LCRA Board member; and Steve Dyer, LCRA governmental and regional affairs representative.

 

The Buchanan Volunteer Fire Department (VFD) will purchase equipment to safely and quickly refill firefighter air tanks with the help of a $24,000 community development grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA).

Thieves broke into the fire station off Texas 29 in Llano County in January and damaged or destroyed a large amount of equipment, including the air compressor used to refill the air tanks firefighters use when responding to hazards.

The fire department will use the grant to buy a new compressor, a station that can fill two air cylinders at a time, and a system of six high-pressure cylinders that firefighters can take with them on calls to refill individual air tanks.

An additional $6,000 in local matching funds will help pay for the equipment.

Tue
07
Feb

LCRA to begin refilling LBJ this week

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Glynis Crawford Smith/The Highlander

The Granite Shoals Parks Committee has been working weekends to wrap up improvements to waterfront parks around Lake LBJ. Celia Escamilla, left, and Bradley Williams, right, join Peggy Smith, city utilities manager on the last dreary Saturday morning before the refill of the lake begins, Feb. 10.

The time has come for lakefront property owners to finish their projects and pull equipment from lakebeds.

The Lower Colorado River Authority made its official announcement Monday, Jan. 6, that the six-week drawdown of lakes Austin and LBJ will end later this week.

The refill of Lake Austin will begin Thursday, Feb. 9, and the refill of Lake LBJ will begin Friday, Feb. 10. Both lakes will be back in their normal operating ranges by Monday, Feb. 13.

The lakes were drawn down for six weeks beginning Jan. 2 to give lakeside property owners an opportunity to repair and maintain docks, retaining walls and other shoreline property. The goal was to curb the growth of nuisance aquatic vegetation such as hydrilla and Eurasian watermilfoil. Lake LBJ was lowered about 4 feet, and Lake Austin was drawn down about 10 feet.

Mon
26
Dec

Lake LBJ will begin drawdown Monday

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Glynis Crawford Smith/The Highlander

On Christmas Eve, all was calm and all was quiet in Granite Shoals, but come Monday the drawdown of Lake LBJ will begin and residents will be scouting the nearest park depository for refuse from the clean up.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Waterfront property owners will begin a flurry of activity Jan. 2 when the drawdown of Lake LBJ promised by the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) begins.

Until about Feb. 13, property owners will be able to work on docks and retaining walls, perform dredging, debris removal and other maintenance work. There are limitations on work, including a prohibition against burning debris in the lakebed or dumping dredged material in the lakebed or along the shoreline.

The problems were rife in the City of Granite Shoals during the last lowering of Lake LBJ, in 2008, when parks and, most egregiously, the Granite Shoals Airport became dumping grounds.

In response, Granite Shoals citizens will find dumpsters in a dozen city parks for refuse disposal.

Fri
21
Oct

LCRA announces lake drawdowns

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The Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) has announced it will lower lakes LBJ and Austin for about six weeks in early 2017.

The goal is two-fold: to let property owners repair and maintain docks, retaining walls and shoreline property and help curb growth of nuisance aquatic vegetation such as hydrilla and Eurasian watermilfoil.

“It’s been years since we’ve lowered any of the Highland Lakes,” said John Hofmann, LCRA executive vice president of water. “Property owners need to maintain their boat docks and perform other maintenance, and I’m pleased our water supplies have been replenished enough that a drawdown is possible. Our lakes are nearly full, and conditions in the basin are better than they have been in several years.”

LCRA last lowered Lake LBJ in 2008, Lake Marble Falls in 2009, and lakes Inks and Austin in 2011. No drawdowns occurred in 2012-2016 because of the drought.

Lake LBJ

Wed
27
Jul

LCRA predicts showers, reports lake inflow

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An LCRA weather map issued earlier in the week shows rainfall possibilities.

Rain showers have moved through Burnet County, pouring welcome relief on the parched Highland Lakes area and a chance exists for continued small respites.
The small break in dry heat was forecast by Bob Rose, chief meteorologist for the Lower Colorado River Authority, “as the stubborn ridge of high pressure that has been across Texas since the middle of June finally shifts west, allowing clouds and moisture to spread into Texas.”
“With the ridge weakening across Texas, the atmosphere should become more unstable over the next few days,” Rose predicted Monday. “Meanwhile, a small area of low pressure in the upper atmosphere is currently situated over Louisiana with a second area of low pressure noted over the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Both of these lows are forecast to push tropical moisture into Texas over the next few days, leading to the development of scattered rain showers, thunderstorms and lower temperatures.

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